ARCturus

With its 17,000 members, URSA Astronomical Association is one of the largest scientific associations in Finland. Founded in 1921, the association was aimed to build an observatory, where anyone interested in knowing more of the stars can observe them. Since 1926, the observatory has offered its services to the researchers and public. In addition to the observation activities, the observatory arranges public lectures on current astronomical topics.

Decades passing, the work of URSA has expanded and become more versatile. Among the most well-known activities are publishing, observation tools, magazine Tähdet ja avaruus, Tähtikallio observatory, as well as observation alert system Taivaanvahti.

URSA co-operates with the schools by lending them a portable planetarium for presentations at school, arranging guided star shows for school classes at the observatory and sending experts to the schools to give lessons on astronomical topics. In addition to these, the URSA library provides teachers with literature and teaching materials as well as students with material for independent studies.

For more detailed information on versatile activities and services, please visit URSA’s website at www.ursa.fi.

 

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